The London Jewish Forum has welcomed the joint Conservative and Labour motion declaring that Zionism is not racism, which Westminster City Council will debate on Wednesday 11 November, and urged councils across London to follow Westminster’s example, Jewish News reports.
The motion will be moved by Cllr Hannah Galley, Cabinet Member for Children and Education, and seconded by Labour’s Cllr David Boothroyd. It responds to the “Zionism is racism” motion adopted by the Green Party at its conference last month, which the Board of Deputies of British Jews and other Jewish community representatives have criticised.
The motion affirms that Zionism is not racism and that Jewish people are entitled to the same right to national self-determination as any other people. It sets out the council’s support for Jewish residents, its opposition to antisemitism in all its forms and its continued commitment to the IHRA working definition of antisemitism. It also asks the Leader of the Council, with the Leader of the Opposition, to write to local synagogues and the London Jewish Forum to share the resolution and reassure Jewish residents.
Amanda Bowman, co-chair of the London Jewish Forum, told Jewish News: “We welcome this cross-party motion from Westminster’s Conservative and Labour councillors. As Jewish identity and many Jewish Londoners’ connection to Israel face growing challenges, cross-party support is especially important.” She welcomed “the commitment to engage local synagogues and reassure Jewish residents” and urged “councils across London to follow Westminster’s example”.
Westminster Labour said it supported the joint motion “because antisemitism must be challenged whenever and wherever it occurs”.
Cllr Paul Swaddle, Leader of Westminster City Council, has said that “Westminster’s Jewish community should hear one voice from their council”. Read what he told MyLondon.
